Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

I blinked my eyes twice, confused by his sudden answer. "What?"

"I have a meeting," he ignored my question as he walked away with his two bodyguards beside him.

I stayed seated, slightly massaging my head. I told myself I needed to find something... an answer, but instead, I found another question.

My whole life has been full of questions.

As I walked toward the gate, I was passing one of their new buildings. It looked newly built because the paint was still fresh. I wasn't going to care about it and was just about to pass by when I felt like something above was going to hit me. Luckily, my reflexes were quick enough, and I avoided the large vase that was about to hit my head.

"Fuck!" I cursed angrily as I looked up.

On the rooftop, I saw a guy wearing a black hat and shirt. He looked like Ash... but the sensation wasn't the same.

I felt those strange goosebumps again.

He was smirking at me, and before I knew it, he was already out of my sight.

I quickly went to my car because it didn't seem like the person I saw was Ash, even though he looked like him.novelbin

I was about to start the engine when I noticed something different about it. The things inside my car weren't arranged the way I left them earlier. I suddenly ran away from my car to make sure.

As soon as I did that, the car exploded. I was almost caught by the blast, even though I was already running a distance.

I stumbled to the ground. I could feel some bruises on my legs, but I didn't pay attention to them. Some people inside the mansion came outside to help me, but I told them I was fine and that I'd report it myself. Fortunately, Evangeline called me. "Shit, I need a companion."

"Did something happen?" she asked worriedly on the other line. "Great. I'm on my way. I see you on my tracker. I have something to tell you-"

But then, something interrupted her from speaking. I also stopped breathing when I heard something on the other line.

Another explosion.

***

My hands trembled as I leaned against the wall. I glanced at my hands and noticed blood smudged on them-something I hadn't realized had transferred to me when I touched Evangeline earlier. Mason had called, telling me Evangeline was brought to Greensmith Medical Hospital. I couldn't even recall how I managed to get here. How had I hailed a taxi when I was so absent-minded? The trauma rippled through my body as I saw her in a critical state. She was unconscious, and the doctors weren't sure how they could save her.

Witnesses told me it was too late when Evangeline ran from her car. They said she grabbed something before the car exploded.

"Sapphire."

I heard Mason call my name as he took hold of my arms and guided me to sit on a bench. I was grateful he was there because my body refused to move, and even my breathing became ragged. "She'll be fine... right?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Even though I had spoken, I could hardly hear myself.

Mason nodded slowly. "She's strong. She's tougher than me. She's a fighter."

I sighed in frustration, running my hands over my face, my thoughts spiraling. I looked lifeless, waiting for news as they transferred her to the operating room. "Stop overthinking," Mason said softly, but I didn't look at him.

I felt too weak to process or function. Shame overwhelmed me. Whoever targeted us was clearly after me and those I held close. Even my children had become targets.

If I had distanced myself from them, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

I was happy-I had friends who stood by me through ups and downs. Among them, I never expected Evangeline to be one of my closest companions.

I treated her more like a sister than a cousin. We bonded over everything and supported each other through anything.

That happiness blinded me to the consequences of my actions.

As I stared blankly into space, the sound of the explosion replayed in my head. From her tone earlier, it seemed she'd discovered something. Was that why someone tried to kill her? My fists clenched, my gaze darkening as I stared at the wall. I needed to find out why. I just prayed Evangeline's hands weren't affected-they were her greatest asset as a scientist. "Sapphire, hey." Mason cupped my face, turning me toward him. "No one wanted this to happen, okay? It's not your fault. Don't do anything reckless."

He could see right through me.

"I'm not someone who acts recklessly," I replied quickly, brushing his hands away. "I always plan and calculate everything... but I didn't know they'd go after Evangeline." "Who?" Mason asked, his brows furrowing as he tilted his head slightly, waiting for my answer.

I bit my lower lip unconsciously-a slip of the tongue. I hadn't meant to say that, and I'd forgotten Mason didn't know.

I hadn't even told him what happened in my car minutes before he called to inform me about Evangeline.

"It's nothing." That was all I could say.

He looked like he wanted to press further, but I avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the blood on my hands. Like a lightning bolt, agony struck through my entire body.

More nurses began rushing into the operating room as time passed. The scene was chaotic, reflecting Evangeline's critical condition. Some parts of her body were burned, and she was unconscious, struggling to breathe.

She had been in front of her pharmaceutical company when it happened. I asked Rain to go there and try to recover her car, but when he arrived, it was already gone. That confirmed my suspicions. Evangeline had discovered something-or someone wanted to silence her.

I mobilized my team immediately. Rain investigated at Varlett Pharmaceuticals for anything unusual, Kesha tracked the car's disappearance, and Luna was at the Coleman Mansion cleaning up a previous mess.

I had also discreetly asked Luna to locate someone wearing a black t-shirt and cap-someone who resembled Ash.

As for Finnick... I couldn't find him. I'd been calling him repeatedly, but he wasn't answering. His phone was off, and doubt started creeping in. Just when I needed him most, he was gone.

If I found out he was involved, I swore I'd deal with him.

"Dad's on his way," Mason said, glancing at his phone. I nodded.

Simon had been in Singapore for a business meeting, but he immediately booked a flight back after hearing what happened. In the mafia world, targeting a family member was unforgivable. Even Evangeline's parents were on their way. This would be my first time meeting them.

I didn't know how to tell them the Coleman Mafia might be behind it. If I did, it would start chaos-more than chaos. It would be a full-blown war.